Every five years, the Virginia Department of Health is tasked with assessing the health needs of the Commonwealth, specifically as it relates to women ages 15-44, men of any age, pregnant women, new mothers and parents. This summer, there will be six regional opportunities to volunteer to join a focus group or take part in a private, personal interview (by phone or in-person) to discuss health issues in your community.
The goals of conducting this assessment are to learn about the emerging health concerns of Virginia residents, to ensure that public health programs gain insight to the best way to use funding, and to use the data received to promote health improvement using policy and technology.
Virginians, of the populations listed above, should register online to participate in a personal interview at https://www.surveygizmo.com/s3/4938823/New-form.
Focus group registration will be conducted at the local level through a network of collaboration and partnerships. VDH also welcomes individuals to volunteer by emailing Maya Ravindran at maya.ravindran@vdh.virginia.gov.
The first regional focus groups are Thursday, May 9, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. at the Lake County Advanced Knowledge Center, 118 East Danville Street, South Hill. Participants must register before attending. Other regional locations for focus groups are Roanoke, Accomack, Alexandria, Marion or Bristol, and Winchester; dates are being scheduled. Organizations in these areas who work with the populations identified may also take part in a provider/partner interview by emailing Maya Ravindran at maya.ravindran@vdh.virginia.gov.
Refreshments will be provided during the regional focus groups, and a $25 gift card is offered to participants in focus groups and personal interviews.
For general information about the statewide maternal and child health assessment, contact Leslie Hoglund at leslie.hoglund@vdh.virginia.gov or (804) 864–7249.
